This paper discusses the various roles of Engineers throughout the history of warfare. Upon reading, you will see the transition from non-combatants that used tools to build and construct fortifications, to full combat soldiers capable of fighting just as well as they could build. The periods covered are: the Roman era, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World Wars I & II, the Vietnam War, and the Global War on Terrorism (Iraq & Afghanistan). When discussing each period, I focused on newly developed tasks or skills that were necessary for that particular conflict. Also discussed is the modern day Engineer and how they have had to operate in two completely different environments [Iraq (urban) and Afghanistan (rural)] while accomplishing a very similar mission (route clearance). Keywords: Combat engineer, Roman legionnaires, Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Global War on Terrorism Evolution of the Engineer in Combat Combat engineers have been a vital part of every military force since the beginning of warfare. Though they haven’t always been referred to as “combat engineers”, these soldiers’ actions and outside the box thinking have made battlefield commanders successful during conflicts and war. The need for such soldiers is seen dating back to the Roman legionaries. The Romans were some of the first military men to understand the need for specific groups or units to be set-aside as engineers in order to survive battle. These skills would later evolve to include the ability to fight as infantryman when not engaged in engineering tasks. The Roman military understood that fighting alone would not contribute to the expansion of their empire. The army could only sustain itself fo... ... middle of paper ... ...an-empire.net /army/army.html#engineering Gorner, P. (1985, June 28). Life of a tunnel rat: Fighting fear in ‘Nam. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-06-28/features /8502110841_1_cu-chi-american-tunnel-rats-john-penycate Heathcote, C.W. (1959, February). General Chevalier Louis Lebègue dePresle Duportail (Abri. ed.). The Picket Post. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served /duport.html March 11, 1779: Congress establishes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-establishes-the-us-army-corps-of -engineers. The role of the engineers. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.usace.army.mil/About/History /ArmyEngineersintheCivilWar.aspx World War I. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.usace.army.mil/About/History /BriefHistoryoftheCorps/WorldWarI.aspx
World War Warfare was one of the greatest examples of technological advancement and strategic challenge, with the introduction of inventions such as the aircraft and the tank the battlefield transformed from attrition as scene in the early years of the war to decisive by the end of the war.
Zerby, Roy M. Interview by author, 10 April 1995. Mail questionnaire. 12th Armored Division Historical Project, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.
Murray, Williamson R. (1998-08-13). Military Innovation in the Interwar Period (p. 242). Cambridge University Press
Davis Jr, F. M., Jones, T. T. (1967). The U.S. Army Engineers- Fighting Elite (p. 19). New
The 18th Engineer Brigade served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War from July 1965 until they deactivated in September of 1971. The Brigade’s first responsibility was to oversee all Army Engineering operations in Vietnam until late 1966 establishment of the U.S. Army Engineer Command in Vietnam. The Brigade had many challenges that they needed to overcome. Those challenges included lack of experienced engineers, lack of funding, lack of supplies, as well as overcoming the challenges that the weather created.
Since the beginning of the humanity, human nature revealed man himself has an internal instinct to protect their immediate surroundings and fellow man from harm. Conflict and deceit dates back to the first man and woman sitting in a garden under an apple tree. It is important to understand that conflict breeds war and war breeds death. This paper will provide an understanding of historical precedents contributing to the evolution of field artillery. From the first fire mission, to an informative narrative from the Battle of the Bulge, to include emerged implications playing a major role in today's modern battlefield. To this day, field artillery Soldiers remain King of Battle, now follow me.
Furthermore, the Romans are known for their impressive strength and “professionalism of their heavy infantry” which was a force that “organized and reorganized as it evolved and adapted to survive the assaults of its mortal enemies” in order to “conquer the Western world.” One can see that Ancient Rome places an enormous emphasis on its militarily, seeing that most of their culture and roots were centered around it. In Ancient Rome, the general population were in full support of their military counterparts, entwining themselves with their military and sharing similar values despite not actually being a part of the military. For example, the Roman leaders “were men with military experience” who were “expected to command the legions in times of war,” which in turn, led for not only the soldiers to have “a relentless drive, never yielding to defeat, even after suffering catastrophic losses,” but the general population as
Warfare was in a state of transition. Older commanders and generals in the French and British militaries were very cavalry and infantry focused. These commanders believed that cavalry, infantry, and artillery would assure victory in any circumstance, against any foe. They clung to the static tactics of the bygone World War I era. World War I had been fought primarily on French soil, and the military as well as the government never wanted that to happen again, therefore they wanted to reinforce their main border against any future German. Little did they know that only twenty two years later they would be bested by German forces in a way that would shock the world. This research will be analyzing many important assumptions, oversights,...
Science fiction never ceases to amaze me as I take great enjoyment in exploring these creative universes. I have always had a great interest in military science fiction for its take on technological innovation and critical analysis. Military science fiction in general is very speculative about future of technology and warfare. The military science fiction genre also serves as a critique of contemporary politics as it deals with many of the same issues that go on today. This has made military science fiction one if the most well respected genres of science fiction for it ability to indirectly criticize modern society. My Integrated Project explores the relationship between how technology that has arisen from war has been some of the most innovative and why war has become an unshakeable aspect of human existence.
In the onset of the 20th century, the US army engineers have played an important role in the shaping of America to what it is today. From the beginning, the engineers built institutions both locally and abroad to support the US army during the Second World War. Through these constructions, the US military was now able to deploy more personnel both abroad and in hot spots locally. This gave America and its allies an upper hand in the war. Some of the projects that gave Americaand its allies an upper hand and were facilitated by the engineers included tank and aircraft assembly, building of camps that could accommodate closed to 6 million soldiers and still remain protected, constructions of forts, depots and hospitals and the establishment of ammunition plants. Other than the military projects, the engineers carried out a lot of projects for the civilian population. Over the years, the US army engineers have played a very important role in federal flood control, disaster management and rescue operations. The have also been used to improve and expand the federal infrastructure throughout the country. As a matter of fact, the engineers play an important role in environmental preservation and restoration.
The Roman military is the first professional army ever assembled. When Rome came to be and developed soldiers that were now paid, trained, organized, and disciplined like never before, those that they encountered very often had little chance of stopping their advance. “Most military commanders of the day simply
To a soldier, war was not romantic nor an intellectual adventure: It was a job of work to which he brought a steady, stubborn, adaptable schooled application (Adcock 6). A grouping of men called Legions were the main force in the Roman Empire. In the Republican times the legions were given a serial number (I, II, III, etc.) each year they were recruited. The smallest unit in the legion was the century, made up of one hundred men. Legionaries used javelins to begin the battle at long range and disrupt enemy battle lines before charging forward to engage the enemy at close range with swords and shields. The normal strength of a Legion was four thousand infantry and two hundred calvary, which could be expanded to five thousand in an em...
Hoffman, Jon T. A History of Innovation: U.S. Army Adaptation in War and Peace. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, United States Army, 2009. U.S. Army Center of Military History. Web.
Engineer dates back to 1325 when an engine’er, someone who operates an engine, was referred to by a conductor as an engineer. (Ford)
In today's society we can't imagine our infrastructures without the help of civil engineers. It all started with the ancient civilizations. It started off with the Egyptians and the Mayans. In this essay I will discuss the history of civil engineering ,famous engineers and the prospects of engineering in the future years.